Thursday, 30th January 2014

Offshore 

1 Wigeon west, 1 male Long-tailed Duck, 70 Common Scoters, 16 Red-breasted Mergansers, 5  Red-throated Divers west, 2 Great Crested Grebes and 1 Auk sp. west.

Others 

700 Pink-footed Geese, 6 Pintails, 7 Goldeneyes, 1 Little Egret, 2 Buzzards, 1 Merlin, 137 Grey Plovers, 800 Knot, 700 Dunlins, 1 Woodcock, 90 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Med. Gull, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Stonechat and 6 Twite.

 

 Little Gull

Wednesday, 29th January 2014

Offshore 

38 Common Scoters west, 12 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Red-throated Divers west, 2 Great Crested Grebes west & 3 on the sea, 15 Kittiwakes west, 1 Guillemot west and 2 Auk sp. west.

 

 Red-breasted Mergansers

Others 

2 Shovelers, 6 Goldeneyes, 7 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Little Egret, 2 Buzzards, 1 Peregrine, 46 Ringed Plovers, 330 Golden Plovers, 200 Sanderlings, 2 Purple Sandpipers, 108 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Stonechat, 1 Grey Wagtail, 25 Goldfinch and 40 Linnets.

 

Great Black-backed Gull

Tuesday, 28th January 2014

A cracking male Long-tailed Duck which spent the morning offshore was the day`s highlight.

Offshore:

1 male Long-tailed Duck, 55 Common Scoters, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, 7 Red-throated Divers west & 1 on the sea, 135 Cormorants west, 2 Great Crested Grebes west and 2 Auk sp. west.

Others 

750 Pink-footed Geese, 2 Shovelers, 14 Pintails, 7 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Little Egret, 1 Peregrine, 120 Golden Plovers, 122 Grey Plovers, 800 Knots, 2 Purple Sandpipers, 73 Black-tailed Godwits, 31 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Med. Gull, 7 Rock Pipits and 9 Twite.

 

 Twite

Monday, 27th January 2014

Offshore

1 Teal east, 19 Common Scoters west, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 4 Red-throated Divers west, 2 Great Crested Grebes west, 1 Kittiwake west, 6 Little Gulls west and 3 Auk sp. west.

 

 Little Gull

Others 

600 Pink-footed Geese, 24 Pintails, 1 Little Egret, 1 Buzzard, 42 Ringed Plover, 215 Golden Plovers, 200 Sanderlings, 4 Purple Sandpipers, 600 Dunlins, 11 Snipe, 59 Black-tailed Godwits, 45 Bar-tailed Godwits, 300 Turnstones, 1 Stonechat and 5 Twite.

 

 Turnstone

Sunday, 26th January 2014

Offshore

2 Wigeons west, 26 Common Scoters west, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 4 Red-throated Divers west, 2 Great Crested Grebes west, 3 Kittiwakes west, 9 Little Gulls west and 4 Auk sp. west.

Others 

1,000 Pink-footed Geese, 18 Pintails, 5 Goldeneyes, 1 Merlin, 49 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Med. Gull, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Stonechat, 2 Grey Wagtails, 8 Rock Pipits and 21 Twite.

 

 Goldeneye

 

 Grey Wagtail

Saturday, 25th January 2014

Offshore 

16 Common Scoters west, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 4 Red-throated Divers west, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Kittiwakes west, 7 Little Gulls west and 3 Auk sp. west.

Others 

1,000 Pink-footed Geese, 400 Teal, 7 Pintails, 1 Buzzard, 140 Golden Plovers, 136 Grey Plovers, 1,200 Knot, 3 Jack Snipes, 23 Snipe, 77 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Stonechat and 21 Twite.

 

 Twite

 

 Pink-footed Geese

Ringing 

7 Blue Tits, 2 Great Tits, 5 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Wrens, 1 Robin and 2 Dunnocks.

 

 Robin

Friday, 24th January 2014

Offshore 

7 Common Scoters west, 6 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Red-throated Divers west and 2 Great Crested Grebes.

Others

800 Pink-footed Geese, 10 Pintails, 1 Little Egret, 1 Peregrine, 1 Water Rail, 47 Ringed Plovers, 500 Golden Plovers, 175 Sanderlings, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 115 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Med. Gull, 2 Grey Wagtails, 40 Linnets and 21 Twite.

 

 Tufted Ducks

Skylarks

Thursday, 23rd January 2014

Offshore 

2 Teal west, 55 Common Scoters, 9 Red-breasted Mergansers, 13 Red-throated Divers west, 6 Great Crested Grebes west, 34 Kittiwakes west, 49 Little Gulls west, 2 Guillemots west and 27 Auk sp. west.

Others 

500 Pink-footed Geese, 10 Pintails, 1 Peregrine, 700 Golden Plovers, 2,000 Lapwings, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 600 Dunlins, 1 Woodcock, 127 Black-tailed Godwits, 300 Turnstones, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Goldcrest  and 2 Stonechats.

 

 Turnstone

 

 Lapwings

 

 Pink-footed Geese

Wednesday, 22nd January 2014

Offshore:

26 Common Scoters west, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Red-throated Divers west, 1 Great Crested Grebe west & 2 on the sea and 1 Auk sp. west.

Others

12 Pintails, 9 Goldeneyes, 2 Buzzards, 1 Peregrine, 46 Ringed Plovers, 300 Golden Plovers, 160 Sanderlings, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 118 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Stonechat, 8 Rock Pipits and 40 Goldfinch.

 

 Goldeneyes

Ringing 

1 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tits, 1 Greenfinch and 3 Goldfinch.

 

 Goldfinch

Tuesday, 21st January 2014

Offshore 

29 Common Scoters west, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Red-throated Divers west, 1 Great Crested Grebe west & 3 on the sea, 2 Kittiwakes west, 4 Little Gulls west and 2 Auk sp. west.

Others 

4 Whooper Swans, 1,500 Pink-footed Geese, 8 Pintails, 1 Little Egret, 1 Merlin, 52 Ringed Plovers, 300 Golden Plovers, 800 Knots, 180 Sanderlings, 220 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Med. Gull, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Goldcrest and 6 Rock Pipits.

 

 

Pochards

Tufted Duck

Monday, 20th January 2014

Offshore

22 Common Scoters west, 16 Red-breasted Mergansers, 6 Red-throated Divers west, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Kittiwake west, 1 Guillemot and 3 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration 

53 Woodpigeons south.

Others 

800 Pink-footed Geese, 7 Goldeneyes, 1 Buzzard, 48 Ringed Plovers, 75 Golden Plovers, 160 Sanderlings, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 64 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Med. Gull, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Stonechat and 2 Grey Wagtails.

 

 Goldeneyes

Sunday, 19th January 2014

Offshore 

1 Scaup west, 65 Common Scoters west, 9 Red-breasted Mergansers, 5 Red-throated Divers west, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 20 Kittiwakes, 2 Little Gulls and 1 Auk sp. west.

Others 

600 Pink-footed Geese, 280 Wigeon, 600 Teal, 8 Goldeneyes, 7 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Bittern, 1 Buzzard, 1 Peregrine, 2 Water Rails, 53 Ringed Plovers, 200 Sanderlings, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 3 Jack Snipes, 55 Snipe, 1 Woodcock, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Little Owl, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Stonechat, 1 Grey Wagtail, 11 Rock Pipits, 1 Water Pipit, 35 Linnets, 27 Twite and 1 Snow Bunting.

 

 Teal

 

 Stonechat

Saturday, 18th January 2014

Offshore

2 Teal west, 106 Common Scoters west, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, 4 Red-throated Divers west, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Kittiwake west, 3 Little Gulls west and 1 Auk sp. west.

Others

1,000 Pink-footed Geese, 1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 52 Ringed Plovers, 185 Golden Plovers, 138 Grey Plovers, 1,000 Knot, 185 Sanderlings, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 400 Dunlins, 73 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 8 Stock Doves, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Stonechat, 7 Rock Pipits and 27 Twite.

 

 Stonechat

 

 Sanderlings

Friday, 17th January 2014

Offshore 

20 Common Scoters west, 11 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Red-throated Divers west, 1 Great Crested  Grebe and 34 Little Gulls.

Others 

1500 Pink-footed Geese, 1 male Hen Harrier, 2 Buzzards, 1 Peregrine, 1 Water Rail, 48 Ringed Plovers, 275 Golden Plovers, 105 Sanderlings, 2 Purple Sandpipers, 14 Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe, 138 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Med. Gull, 1 Jay, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Stonechat, 1 Grey Wagtail, 6 Rock Pipits and 48 Linnets.

 

 LInnet

Thursday, 16th January 2014

Offshore

2 Shelducks east, 1 Wigeon west, 42 Common Scoters west, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, 20 Red-throated Divers west, 4 Great Crested Grebes west, 4 Kittiwakes west, 130 Little Gulls feeding off the sewage outlet, 2 Guillemots west and 4 Auk sp. west.

Others 

400 Pink-footed Geese, 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Little Egret, 1 Buzzard, 1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 46 Ringed Plovers, 160 Sanderlings, 2 Purple Sandpipers, 78 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Med. Gull, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Stonechat, 1 Grey Wagtail, 52 Linnets and 27 Twite.

 

 Great Black-backed Gull

Wednesday, 15th January 2014

The Council must have re-stocked with ammo as there were flash bangs going off over the tip throughout the day, consequently the only Larid of note  was the Glaucous Gull seen briefly before fleeing! On a brighter note the Cetti's Warbler was trapped and ringed; the fifth to be ringed at the Obs.

Offshore 

64 Common Scoters west, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, 4 Red-throated Divers west, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 2 Auk sp. west.

Others 

800 Pink-footed Geese, 7 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Merlin, 2 Peregrines, 51 Ringed Plovers, 43 Sanderlings, 2 Purple Sandpipers, 23 Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe, 280 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Med. Gull, 1 Glaucous Gull, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Stonechat, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Water Pipit and 27 Twite.

 

 Purple Sandpiper

Pink-footed Geese

Ringing

2 Great Tits and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

 

 Cetti's Warbler

Tuesday, 14th January 2014

Offshore 

1 Shelduck west, 17 Common Scoters west, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 12 Red-throated Divers west, 2 Great Crested Grebes west & 1 on the sea, 1 Kittiwake west and 2 Auk sp. west.

Others 

450 Pink-footed Geese, 1 Buzzard, 1 Merlin, 2 Peregrines, 49 Ringed Plovers, 85 Golden Plovers, 73 Sanderlings, 2 Purple Sandpipers, 11 Snipe, 170 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls, 1 Iceland Gull, 1 Glaucous Gull, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Stonechat, 6 Rock Pipits and 23 Twite.

 

 Purple Sandpiper

Yellow-legged Gull

Monday, 13th February 2014

The highlight of today was a fabulous array of large Gulls,the continuing presence of the weekend's Glaucous Gull was joined by an Iceland Gull and 2 Yellow-legged Gulls. Larid heaven!

Offshore 

36 Common Scoters west, 12 Red-breasted Mergansers, 13 Red-throated Divers west, 3 Great Crested Grebes west, 3 Kittiwakes west, 2 Little Gulls west, 4 Guillemots west, 1 Razorbill west and 15 Auk sp. west.

Others

400 Teal, 5 Goldeneyes, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Little Egret, 1 Buzzard, 1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 46 Ringed Plovers, 160 Sanderlings, 2 Purple Sandpipers, 250 Black-tailed Godwits, 270 Turnstones, 1 Med. Gull, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls, 1 Iceland Gull, 1 Glaucous Gull, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Stonechat and 23 Twite.

 

 Glaucous Gull

Yellow-legged Gull

Iceland Gull playing hide and seek!

Sunday, 12th January 2014

Offshore

2 Shelducks west, 8 Common Scoters west, 10 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Red-throated Divers west & 1 east, 2 Great Crested Grebes west, 1 Kittiwake and 2 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration

310 Pink-footed Geese north.

Others

600 Pink-footed Geese, 7 Goldeneyes, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 44 Ringed Plovers, 88 Sanderlings, 68 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Med. Gull, 1 2CY Glaucous Gull, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Water Pipit, 52 Linnets and 23 Twite.

 

 Sanderlings and Turnstones

Glaucous Gull (above & below)

Peregrine

Saturday, 11th January 2014

Offshore

2 Shelducks west, 22 Common Scoters west, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, 5 Red-throated Divers west, 2 Great Crested Grebes west, 2 Kittiwakes west and 3 Auk sp. west.

Others 

1 Buzzard, 2 Peregrines, 2 Water Rails, 42 Ringed Plovers, 120 Golden Plovers, 75 Sanderlings, 31 Snipe, 3 Jack Snipes, 220 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Med. Gull, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 1 2CY Glaucous Gull, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Cettis Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Stonechat, 1 Water Pipit and 23 Twite.

 

 Sanderling and Turnstones

Glaucous Gull (above & below)

Peregrine

Ringing

1 Pied Wagtail.

 

 Pied Wagtail

Friday, 10th January 2014

Offshore

36 Common Scoters west, 4 Red-throated Divers west, 1 Great Crested Grebe west and 4 Auk sp. west.

Others 

400 Pink-footed Geese, 6 Goldeneyes, 1 Little Egret, 2 Water Rails, 220 Golden Plovers, 11 Snipe, 2 Jack Snipes, 142 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Med. Gull, 6 Stock Doves, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Grey Wagtail and 5 Rock Pipits.

 

 Pochards

Thursday, 9th January 2014

A superb day`s birding with a nice selection of winter scarcities including a Bittern, male Hen Harrier and a vocal male Cetti's Warbler. After last years run of records of Cetti's Warbler it is now not considered as a rarity here and how long before they colonise the area?

Offshore 

1 Teal east, 120 Common Scoters west, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Red-throated Divers west, 2 Great Crested Grebes west and 1 Auk sp. west.

Others

600 Pink-footed Geese, 500 Teals, 6 Goldeneyes, 8 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Bittern, 1 male Hen Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 2 Water Rails, 83 Golden Plovers, 1,000 Lapwings, 2 Purple Sandpipers, 600 Dunlins, 145 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Med. Gull, 1 2CY Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Stonechat, 1 Grey Wagtail, 6 Rock Pipits and 23 Twite.

 

 Black-tailed Godwits

Stonechat

Wednesday, 8th January 2014

Offshore 

130 Common Scoters, 9 Red-breasted Mergansers, 5 Red-throated Divers west, 2 Great Crested Grebes west, 5 Kittiwakes west, 5 Little Gulls west and 3 Auk sp. west.

 

 Little Gull

Others 

6 Goldeneyes, 7 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Buzzard, 1 Peregrine, 130 Golden Plovers, 2 Purple Sandpipers, 600 Dunlins, 115 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Med. Gull, 1 2CY Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Stonechat, 1 Grey Wagtail and 35 Linnets.

 

 Stonechat

 

 Black-tailed Godwits